Bowling alley



April 20, 1943.

E. F. SEAMAN ETAL BOWLING ALLEY Original Filed March 25, 1938 4SheetsSheet l 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w w 0 W i N w Wm \0. v aw w w E. F.SEAMAN ETAL BOWLING ALLEY Original Filed March 2-5, 1958 April 20, 1943.

April 20, 1943- E. F. SEAMAN EIAL BOWLING ALLEY Original Filed March 25,1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 xii/ April 20, 1943. E F. SEAMAN 2,316,990

BOWLING ALLEY Original Filed March 25, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedApr. 20, 1943 BOWLING ALLEY Ellsworth F. Seaman, Washington, D. 0., andJesse B. Lunsford, East Falls Church, Va.

Original application March 25, 1938, Serial No. 198,116. Divided andthis application May 1, 1940, Serial No. 332,798

4 Claims.

This invention relates to bowling alleys and the pins used inconjunction with such alleys. It is a division of our application SerialNumber 198,116, filed March 25, 1938.

An important object of our invention is to provide a bowling alley ofimproved construction in which the factors of chance and error whichheretofore have entered into the games of duck pins, ten pins and thelike are largely eliminated with the result that the scores compiled bythe players furnish a more reliable basis of comparison of theirindividual skill. In order to attain such an object the inventioncontemplates the provision of a bowling alley having an improvedsurfacing material which is free from warping and more resistant to wearthan wood, the material commonly employed in the construction of alleys.

Another object of our invention is to provide a bowling alley includingmeans such that when a player crosses the foul line of the alley thisfact will be signalled either by the ringing of a bell or by thelighting of a lamp, or by both.

A further object of our invention is to provide a bowling alley havingan indicator board associated therewith showing a diagram of thepositions of the pins on the alley and also indicating by means ofelectric lights those positions cupied by pins on the alley. In thepreferred form of our invention, the indicator board is connected withdetector means at the forward end of the alley-that is, the end of thealley occupied by the playerso that should the player cross the foulline in delivering the ball the pins knocked down by the ball will notregister on the indicator board, and the lights upon the board willremain in the same condition as before the roll was made.

Still another object of our invention is to provide signalling means toindicate either audibly or visually, or both, when a player lofts orthrows a ball part way down the alley, instead of rolling it down thealley as required by the rules of play. It is desirable that all playersin a game compete on the same basis and subject to the same conditions.To this end the loft indicator serves to show when a player has changedhis method of play to the extent that a ball is thrown instead of rolleddown the alley. Furthermore, the loft signal informs the management ofthe bowling alley of repeated lofting on the part of a player. Sincecontinued lofting results in damage to the floor of the alleynecessitating its frequent resurfacing, the practice is to bediscouraged and for this reason some alleysdisplay the sign Do not leftball. By the operation of the loft signal the player isautomaticallyreminded of his weakness and ordinarily he will strive to overcome itwithout placing the management to the embarrassing necessity of callingthe matter to his attention.

The invention has as an additional object to provide an improved form ofpin which is more resistant to breakage and more capable of retainingits .liveliness or ability to rebound after a prolonged period ofservice than the wooden pins now in common use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of our invention,reference being had to the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bowling alley incorporating thenovel features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view of two of the superposed slabscomposing the floor of the bowling alley;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the forward end of the bowling alley showingthe position of the pair of rollers forming part of the foul signallingmechanism;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through the floor of the bowlingalley showing on an enlarged scale one of the pair of rollers of Figure3;

Figure 5 is a view taken at right angles to that of Figure 4 showing thepair of rollers of Figure 3 with theswitches associated with one oftheir ends;

Figure 6 is awiring diagram showing one of the lampcircuits connectedwith the indicator board to designate the positions of the pins on thealley, and also showing the circuit associated with the foul signallingmechanism for controlling the lamp circuits;

Figure 7 is one of the series of relays controlling the lamp circuitsand adapted to be actuated by the foul signalling circuit;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the forward end of the bowlingalley'schematically indicating the arrangement of the loft detectingmeans;

Figure 9 is a wiring diagram indicating the circuits associated with theloft signalling means;

Figure 101s a viewin side elevation of one form of pin for use withbowling alleys;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of an alternative form of pin; and

Figure 12 is aside elevation of another form of pin.

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 is shown a bowling alley! havinga trough 2 extending along one of its sides and disposed at a slightinclination for the gravitational return of balls 3 from the rear end ofthe alley, occupied by the :pins 4 (only seven pins of the usual tenbeing shown) to an elevated rack 5 located adjacent a runway l a at theforward end of the alley where the players stand when rolling theb'allsdow'n the alley in playingthe games of duck pins, ten pins-andthelike. A narrow line '6 is customarily marked upon the floor of thealley between the alley l and the runway la which, according to therules, no player is permitted to cross in his delivery of a ball downthe alley without incurring a penalty against his score.

The floor of the alley as best indicated in Figure 2 is composed ofsynthetic resinous material such as a phenol-formaldehyde-for example,the material known as Bakelite-made up in the form of slabs 1 and 1aarranged crosswise of the alley. The upper slab 1 is composed of twosheets 8 of the resinous material united by an intermediate layer ofcement 9 of any suitable nature, such as that prepared by dissolving asoluble phenol-formaldehyde resin in alcohol and mixing with the solublecondensation product prepared by heating glycerol with sebacic acid. Thelower slab 1a is composed of an upper layer of resinous material 8a,such as composes the sheets 8, bonded by a layer of cement 9a to a metalbacking plate Ill which rests upon the floor ll of the building housingthe alley. The slabs l and 1a are arranged in offset relation so thattheir joints are out of registry and these slabs are cemented together,as indicated as 91), to form a firm, strong, wear-resistant flooring forthe bowling alley capable of withstanding repeated pounding of the ballsas they are rolled down the alley. The metal slab 10 may be fastened tothe floor of the building by a suitable cement 90, as indicated inFigure 2. The slabs I composing the upper surface of the alley arearranged in tight lateral abutting engagement and the minute cracksbetween adjacent slabs extending across the alley may be sealed bycement so that the slabs present a plane uninterrupted surface. One ofthe advantages of this type of flooring over wood flooring is that theeffect of grain or longitudinal floor seams is eliminated by reason ofthe arrangement of the slabs with their lines of junction at rightangles to the path of travel of the balls down the alley.

Preferably located along one side of the alley at the forward end withinconvenient view of the players is an indicator board l2. This indicatorboard is provided with a bank of electric lamps i3 arranged in wedgeformation, each lamp corresponding to the position of a pin 4 in set-upposition on the alley. The lamps of this pin diagram are individuallyconnected to contacts 14 embedded in the floor of the alley anddesignate the spotting positions of the pins, so that when a pin is inset-up position a metal plate on its base bridges these contacts andcloses a circuit, later to be described, to illuminate the lamp in thepin diagram on the indicator board corresponding to that particular pinon the alley. This indicator board facilitates keeping score andobviates error when pins left standing on the alley at the conclusion ofa players period of play are hidden behind other pins. Such a boardalsoserves to increase the interest of spectators whose View of thealley is frequently obscured by the players. In order to protect thelamps, the

diagram board may be covered by a panel 12a having glass windows overthe lamps and, if desired, these windows may be numbered to designatethe pin positions, as indicated in Fig. 6.

Also upon the indicator board are two additional lamps l and I6designated respectively foul and loft. The foul lamp [5 will light and abell 13 connected in the same circuit will ring when a player crossesthe foul line 6 marked upon the alley; and the loft lamp l6 willilluminate and hell I! will sound when a player lofts or throws a ballpart wa down the alley.

The electric circuits with their associated mechanisms by which thelamps of the indicator board are controlled will now be described. Asindicated in Fig. 1 the bowling alley l is provided with two narrowparallel slots 19 extending across the alley at opposite sides of thefoul line 5. Disposed within the slots and having their circumferencesapproximately tangent to but projecting slightly above the floor of thealley are rollers 20. The slots and rollers are sufficiently small so asnot to constitute a stumbling hazard for the players. These rollers,which may be of hard rubber composition, are supported at opposite endsin upright metal forks 2| engaging at their upper ends trunnions 22extending axia1- ly from the ends of the rollers and at their lower endsbeing provided with metal plungers 23 housed within cylinders 24. Therollers, forks and cylinders are located within pits 25 provided belowthe level of the alley. Springs 26 main tain the plungers 24, and hencethe rollers 20, in raised position, but pressure upon the rollers movesthe plungers downwardly against the thrust of the springs and brings themetal plungers into engagement with contacts 21 located in the bottom ofthe cylinders. The contacts 21 within the cylinders at correspondingends of the rollers are connected in series by a conductor 28 and thecorresponding metal forks 21 carrying the metal plungers 23 areconnected to a circuit later to be described by conductors 29 and 29a.Shields 30 fastened upon the upright forks 2| guard against the entranceof dirt into the cylinders 23 containing the plungers through theopenings in the tops of these cylinders, The plungers 23 with theircompanion contacts 21 thus form switches S and S arranged in series inan electrical circuit as schematically shown in Figure 6.

Each roller thus actuates the two switches S or S respectively locatedat opposite ends of a roller. The separation of the two parallel rollersis such that a rolling ball will depress only one roller at a timeleaving the circuit open. If, however, a player makes a foul his footwill rest in a position such as to depress both rollers and the switchesS and S connected to the forward and rear rollers are simultaneouslyclosed to opcrate the foul signalling circuit. The two switches S atopposite ends of the forward roller, as well as the two switches S atopposite ends of the rear roller, are connected in parallel topositively insure the operation of the signal even if, as mightsometimes occur, only one end of the total of four switches associatedwith the pair of rollers) need be closed in order to actuate the foulsignal.

Referring to the wiring diagram shown in Figure 6, A and D represent thetwo main lines of the electric lighting circuit for the building housingthe bowling alley. From line A, a conductor 3| is connected to one ofthe contacts [4 designating the pin spotting position on the alley whilea second conductor 3la extends from the other of the contacts Hi to theappropriate lamp 13 on the indicator board. From the lamp I3, aconductor 3lb leads to the line D. In the same manner the contacts [4located at each of the spotting positions of the pins are connected totheir respective lamps upon the indicator board. Therefore, when a pinis set-up on the alley its metal base will bridge the contacts |4embedded in the alley and'thus complete the electrical circuit throughconductors 3|, 3|a, lamp l3 and conductor 3| b to main line D to lightthe lamp; and similarly when the pin is knocked over by a ball rolleddown the alley the contacts will immediately be disconnected and thecircuit broken to extinguish the lamp.

For maintaining the lamp lit when its pin is knocked downsuch as isdesirable when a player makes a foulso as to preserve the indicatorboard in its original condition before the ball was rolled by the playermaking the foul, additional circuits including a solenoid type relay 32are provided. The construction of this relay is shown in Figure '7, andit will be understood that an identical relay is provided for each lampcircuit of the pin diagram.

The relay 32 comprises a plunger 33 the outer end of which is of somenon-magnetic metal and provided with a fiat head 33a, while its oppositeend is of soft iron (as indicated by shading) or other magnetic metaland reciprocable within a solenoid 34. The solenoid is enclosed within arelay box 35, while the headed end of the plunger projects beyond an endof the relay box. The opposite end of the plunger is provided with ametal bridging member 36 having rollers 31 at its opposite ends. A pairof bowed springs 38 is associated with the relay box, the arrangementbeing such that-movement of the plunger within the solenoid causes therollers to press against and flatten the springs to permit passage ofthe bridging member past the humps. After the rollers have passed thehumps of the springs, the resiliency of the springs biases the plungerinto its extreme position of travel in the direction in which it ismoving. One end of the solenoid 34 is provided with a pair of contacts39 adapted to be connected by the metal bridging member 36 when thesolenoid is energized and the plunger moved outwardly, i. e., to theright in Figure 7. By pressing upon the head 33a the plunger may bemoved inwardly to the dotted line position to break the connectionbetween contacts 39 and when moved to its fully retracted position isimpositively maintained in such position by the bowed springs 38.

Resetting of the relays at the conclusion of a period of play by abowler may be accomplished either manually or electrically. A metalreset frame 40 having terminal legs 4| disposed at right angles to theframe and slidable in guides 42 is maintained out of contact with theheads 33a of the plungers 33 by tension springs 43 located at oppositeends of the frame. By pushing upon a finger piece 44 extending out fromthe frame, the frame engages the heads of the plungers 33 of the variousrelays which have been operated and moves them rearwardly where they areretained by the bowed springs 38. The relays 32 may be mounted upon theindicator board in which case the finger piece 44 may project beyond theside of the latter, as indicated in Figure 1, for convenient operationby the players.

Alternatively the reset frame may be operated electrically, and thiswill be desirable where for one reason or another it is not practicableto mount the relays 32 on the indicator board. Electrical operation maybe accomplished by means of a circuit comprising a conductor 45 leadingfor example from the main line A and branching into two parallel lines45a and 45b connecting with the main line D. Each of the lines 45a and45b forms part of circuits including solenoids 46 each surrounding a leg4| of the reset frame composed of soft iron. In the por tion of thecircuit formed by the conductor 45 is a push-button switch 41. Bypressing the pushbutton the circuit is closed and the reset frame ismoved in opposition to the tension springs 43 to shift the relayplungers 33 inwardly, in the same manner as when the frame is manuallyoperated.

The winding of the solenoid 34 is connected in circuit with conductors48 and 48a. Conductor 48 extends from relay 32 and joins conductor 3|aof the lamp circuit as shown. The conductor 48a extends to main line Dand includes switches S and S, operable by the rollers 25 of the foulsignalling device. Normally these switches will be open, but when bothare closed, as by reason of a player overstepping the foul line, acircuit is completed from main line A, through conductor 3|, contactsl4, conductor 3| a, conductor 48, Winding of relay 32, and conductor48a, to main line D. This causes energization of the relay to move theplunger 33 in a direction so as to bridge the contacts 33 with its head33a projected outwardly. At the same time the bell |8 rings by reason ofa current momentarily flowing through a shunt 49, in circuit with whichthe bell is connected, from conductor 48a to main line A.

The connection between contacts 39 of the relay 32 having beenestablished, current is now free to flow to the lamp l3 maintaining itilluminated notwithstandin breaking of the connection between contacts Mif the pin closing these contacts should be knocked down. This currentfollows the path from main line A, through conductor 3|, a conductor 50,tapping conductor 3| and leading to one of the contacts 39 of the relay,bridging member 36 of the relay, a conductor 50a connected to the othercontact 39 of the relay and leading to conductor 3| a, lamp l3, andthrough conductor 3| b to main line D. The lamp 13 remains illuminateduntil the reset frame 40 is depressed to reposition the plungers 33 ofall the relays which have been actuated.

A solenoid operated relay 5|, corresponding in all substantial respectsto the relay 32 described above, is provided adjacent the latter seriesof relays to control the foul lamp I5 on the diagram board. The windingof the solenoid of relay 5| is connected through conductors 52 and 52ato main lines A and conductor 48a, respectively, as shown in the wiringdiagram of Figure 6. When the switches S and S are closed the currentflows from A through the winding of relay 5|, conductor 52a andconductor 48a to the main line D. This closes a secondary circuitincluding conductors 53 and 53a in which is included the foul" lamp I5.

The loft detector controlling the loft lamp l6 comprises means fordirecting two beams of light, indicated by dotted lines 54 and 55 inFigure 8, horizontally across the alley short distances beyond the foulline and at an elevation above the alley such that both beams aresequentially intercepted by a ball rolling in the normal way down thealley (or, alternatively, rolling down the gutter which extendsalongside the alley), but only the second light beam 55 beingintercepted when the ball is lofted in such a manner as to jump or passabove the first light beam 54.

The first light beam 54 is directed from a light source 56 located onone side of the alley so as to impinge upon a photoelectric relay 5'!-located upon the opposite side of the alley. This photoelectric relay isinterposed in a circuit 58 including a, source of electrical energy 59and a relay 6!] as indicated in Figure 9. The second light beam 55likewise is directed from a light source 6| at one side of the alleyupona photoelectric relay 62 at the other side of the alley interposed in acircuit 63 including a source of electrical energy 64 and a relay 65.

A hinged switch bar 66 is connected to one end of a conductor 61, whichconductor at its other end taps the main line A of the building lightingsystem. A spring BBatends to draw the switch bar 66 into engagement witha contact 69, but while the relay 60 is energized the switch bar isattracted and maintained out of engagement with said contact. Theconductor 61 includes a solenoid 68 within which there slides a softiron plunger 13, the arrangement being such that energization of thesolenoid B8 draws the plunger to the left. A hinged switch bar I isconnected to one end of a conductor 'Il leading to a contact 12. Aspring Illa tends to draw the switch bar 10 into engagement with acontact 14, but while energy is flowing through the relayp65 the switchbar is held away fro-m said contact. The conductor 1! includes therein asolenoid surrounding the plunger .13, and which when energized tends todraw the armature to the right. A contact 12a. companion to contact i2is connected by a conductor 16 to main line A. A conductor 11 extendsbetween the pivoted switch bar in and a contact 18; while a contact 18a,companion to contact 18, is connected to main line A by a conductor 19,and interposed in this circuit is the electrically operable signal belll1 mounted adjacent the indicator board.

The plunger 13 has fixed thereon a bridging member 8| which in itsmovement to the left with the plunger closes the pair of contacts 12 and12a, and in its movement in the opposite direction closes the pair ofcontacts 18 and 18a. A conductor 82 leading from contact 68 and aconductor 83 leading from contact 14 connect these contacts to the mainline D. A conductor 84 in parallel with conductor 19 extends between thelatter conductor and the winding of a solenoid operated relay 85,identical in form with that of light relay 32, previously described, andcomprising a plunger 85 carrying a bridging member 81. The other end ofthe winding of relay B5 is connected to main line A through a conductor84a. .One of a pair of contacts 88 onthe bottom of the solenoid isconnected to the main line A by a conductor 89 having interposed incircuit therewith the Loft lamp l6; while the other contact 88 on thesolenoid is joined to the main line D by a conductor 90. Normally theplunger will be depressed to mantain the bridging member out ofconnecting relation with the pair of contacts 88 on the solenoid, butwhen the solenoid is energized the plunger will more to the dotted lineposition of Figure 9 to connect these contacts and complete a circuit toilluminate Loftlamp It on the indicator board.

From the description it will be seen that when the light beam 54impinging on photoelectric relay 51 is intercepted, the circuit 58 ismomentarily interrupted releasing relay Ell and allowing contact 69 tobe engaged by the hinged switch bar 66 under the urge of spring 65a. Theshort period of time during which the switch bar engages the contact issufficient to cause a current to flow from main line A, throughconductor M. n lu i th solenoid 6 switch b 5 contact 69 and conductor 82to main line D. This current energizes the solenoid 68 which draws theplunger 13 to the left causing the bridging member 8| to move from itsdotted line position to close the gap between contacts I2 and 12a. Thisconditions the circuit controlled by the relay 65 so that when thesecond light beam 55 is intercepted by the ball, the current in circuit63 will momentarily be interrupted, causing the relay 65 to releasehinged switch bar 10 and allow the latter-to be pulled by the springIlla. into engagement with contact 14. Current then flows from main lineA, through conductor 15, bridging member 8|, conductor 1|, including thesolenoid 15, switch bar 10, and through conductor 83 to main line D. Thesolenoid 15 moves the plunger 13 to the right to break the connectionbetween contacts '52 and 12a. and restore the armature -to its originaldotted line position closing contacts 18 and 18a. 7 V 4 Now in the caseof a lofted ball, only the second light beam 55 is intercepted. ihiscauses the relay 65 in circuit 63 to be de-cnergized, releasing theswitch bar 10 which is drawn by spring 15a into engagement with contact14. current is consequently caused to flow from main line A, throughconductor 84a, the solenoid winding of relay 85, conductor 84, conductor19, across bridging member 8|, through conductor 11, switch bar T0, andconductor 83, thence to main line D. This current operates the relay B5to close the circuit constituted of the conductors 85 and and includingthe Loft lamp l6, which latter becomes lighted. The bell l1 interposedin the circuit including the conductor 19 is also sounded momentarilyfor the duration of the second light beam interruption.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the pins havingbeen initially set up in wedge formation upon the alley ready for play,all the lamps l3 upon the indicator board will be lighted by reason ofthe metal bases of the pins bridging the contacts l4 embedded in thefloor of the alley to close their respective lamp circuits. When a ballis rolled down the alley and a pin is knocked over, assuming no foul bythe player occurs, the contacts l4 areino longer connected and thecircuit of the lamp designating that particular pin position in thediagram on the indicator board is broken so that the lamp goes out.This, of course, happens in the case of all the pins knocked down by theball so that the indicator board reveals to the player the number andposition. of the pins remaining standing at any time by the lightedlamps in the pin diagram.

When, however, a player oversteps the foul line in making a roll theswitches S and S are closed by reason of the players foot simultaneouslydepressing the pair of rollers 20. This closes a circuit to operate therelays 32 so that current will flow to each already lighted lamp,through a secondary circuit as has been previously described and thuspreserve the condition of the indicator board regardless of whether ornot other pins are subsequently knocked down. Simultaneously the bell I8will ring during the period switches S and S are closed and the Foullamp l5 on the indicator board willlight up to signal the foul. Afterthe pins knocked down by the player committing the foul have beenrestored to' their proper positions on the alley, the relays 32 arereset in a manner which has been previously explained by depressing thefinger piece 44 extending out from the side of the indicator board andconnected to the reset frame 40. This action also extinguishes the Foullamp l5. Thereafter, the pins knocked over by the succeeding ballsrolled down the alley until a player has finished his period of playwill be registered on the pin diagram on the indicator board.

A further advantage following from the provision of individual pincircuit relays is that a referee in match play may energize relay(through a control circuit, not shown) when he wishes to declare apenalty for reasons other than infraction of the rules against crossingthe foul line or lofting a ball,

If a player should make a loft only one of the two light beams directedacross the alley will be intercepted. Interception of the second lightbeam 55 without interception of the first beam 54 actuates relay 85.This causes the bell 80 to sound and the lamp l6 marked Loft on theindicator board to illuminate in a manner which has previously beenexplained. The relay 85 may be reset, either manually or electrically,by means not shown but corresponding to those described above inconnection with the reset frame of Figure 6. This extinguishes the loftlight on the indicator board. It will be readily apparent that, in thesame way that relay 5| operates in the case of a foul, relay 85 might bearranged to shunt out the contacts I4 on the bowling alley and preservethe indicator board in its then fixed condition when a ball is lofted,regardless of whether or not any pins are knocked down on the roll. Inthis event the penalty for a lofted ball would be the same as for afoul; i. e., the player loses the number of pins he knocked down withthe ball when the loft was committed. Under ordinary conditions of play,however, the sounding of the bell to indicate the occurrence of a loftwill probably be sufiicient.

In Figures 10 through 12 are shown various forms of pins which arepreferably used in conjunction with the bowling alley described above,although it will be appreciated that such pins have a broader field ofapplication and may be employed to equally good advantages upon alleysof the type now in common use. The inability of wooden pins to withstandthe repeated shocks to which they are exposed in play is attested by thefact that after one game a set of wooden pins is usually consideredunfit for service in competition match play. In order to overcome thedisadvantage of wooden pins we propose to construct our pins in whole orin part of synthetic resinous compositions, molded or pressed to shape,and cured under suitable conditions of temperatures, pressure and time.

One of our objects is to obtain a degree of uniformity in weight,surface contour, surface hardness and general resiliency not obtainablein any other construction, particularly wood. As is well known, all woodhas a definite grain structure, and both the grain and the density ofwood will vary from point to point on the periphery of even the samepin. Moreover, no two pins can possibly be exactly alike; the grainstructure of wood, between the same species of trees, will varyconsiderably because of the unavoidable differences in the growth oftrees caused by diiferences in soil conditions, climatic conditions,seasonal variations of rainfall, sunshine, drought, etc. Even two treesof the same species, age, soil conditions, etc., will be dissimilar ifone grows on the northern slope and another grows on the southern slopeof the same hill. Nor are the annular rings on the same tree trulyconcentric,

5' one with respect to another, but these rings are usually wider onthat side of the tree next to the sun.

There is no means of overcoming such variations as occur in wood, andthe best which can be hoped for is a partial culling out of the worstspecimens. It is obvious that, due to economic considerations (cost,lack of definite standards as to density, etc.) there must always exista wide variation between the diiferent pins of any one set; these widevariations in texture, hardness, etc., leading to wide variations inreaction when different pins are hit at exactly the same angle,direction, force, etc. Such variations may prove e n as all games ofchance are, but they serve to reduce what should be and is usuallyintended to be a game of skill, to one of chance.

There are, of course, pins of molded or pressed composition such ashard-rubber, compressed paper, fibre, bitumen, shellac, etc., which maybe held to closer tolerance as to weight, balance and hardness thanwood, but that such materials are even less practicable than maple wood,of which the usual wooden pins are composed, is attested by the factthat wooden pins are still used to the exclusion of such forms of pins.This is because such composition pins tend to dent 0r chip renderingtheir life comparatively short. Likewise pins made entirely of metalhave been proposed but in those cases where the metal is sufficientlylight to admit of its use as a substitute for wood, such as aluminum forexample, the lack of resiliency of the metal and its tendency to deformunder impact makes the use of such pins unfeasible, even ignoring thefactor of their increased cost. If the pins are made of sufficientlyhard metal to withstand deformation, then they are either too heavy orso resistant as to cause injury to the balls.

In Figure 10 is shown a pin I08 of conven tional bottle shape composedin principal part of wood but having a band I01 composed of a syntheticresinous material surrounding its barrel portion in the zone in which itis subject to impact by the balls. The inner circumference [Ma of thisband is cylindrical in form so as to tightly embrace a correspondingcylindrical portion upon the wooden pin. The band is held in assemblywith the pin by means of screws suitably countersunk as indicated at I02within the band and the countersinks filled with a polymerized Bakelitevarnish flush with the outer surface of the band. The outercircumference liilb of the band is smoothly curved as shown in thefigure so as to continue the bulged peripheral contour of the pin. Uponthe base of the pin is afiixed a protective metal plate I03. Instead ofbeing composed of a single molded ring of material, the band I 0|alternatively may be composed of a plurality of layers of syntheticresinous materials adhesively bonded together. If desired, the band maybe split to facilitate its assembly with the pm.

One virtue of this type of pin is that it may be economically producedby making use of wooden pins which have become unfit for further use byreason of denting or splintering of their outer surfaces. Thus, manywooden pins which have served their normal term of usefulness may bereclaimed by simply trimming oif the damaged section of their peripheryin a lath so as to receive the band lfil. Another advantage lies in thefact that such pins may be originally constructed of relatively cheapwood, instead of the comparatively expensive maple wood of which woodenpins are customarily made, and thus materially reduce theirmanufacturing cost. The life of the pin may be prolonged almostindefinitely by renewing the bands l! as they become unsuited foruse'after long periods of service.

Figure 11 shows a form of hollow pin I04. In this form of pin a metalshell I corresponding generally to the contour of the pin and providedwith a thin metal stem 105a at its upper end is covered with outer andinner layers I06 and IOBa of synthetic resinous material adhesivelysecured together. The outer layer W5 is molded to the contour of aconventional pin and the metal stem Ill5a serves to reinforce the moldedneck of the pin. A metal base plate I0! is fastened to the bottom of thepin by means of an annular bushing li'fla bonded to a circularsurrounding flange l05a projecting from the bottom of the shell I05.

The pin I08 shown in Figure 12 comprises a thin metal rod 19, having ahead l09a upon its upper end, about which the pin is molded fromsynthetic resinous material. This pin is Provided with a base plate H0threadedly fastened to the lower end of the rod and fixed to the baseplate and extending axially upward at the bottom of the pin is a hollowsleeve Ill surrounding the lower end of the rod and having a serratedcircumference Illa interlocking with the molded material of the pin.

The pins described above are not limited to any one particular syntheticresin because numerous resin compositions of a satisfactory characterare already of wide commercial availability; and the selection of aparticular one is largely a matter of individual choice; influencedsomewhat by the facilities and normal manufacturing technique of aparticular supplier; and largely by the salient features of a particularpin design.

At the present time, and based upon the molding (or press) equipment,temperatures, pressures and curing times in widest commercial use, ourchoice would favor a resin of the phenol-formaldehyde (50-50) type. Suchresins are commonly known under brand names like Bakelite, and we preferto employ Bakelites XM-199, XM-200, XM-3510 and XM-1132 (in decreasingorder of merit).

Although resin reinforcement is not absolutely necessary to thisinvention, it does offer certain advantages. The best results areobtained with, and we prefer to utilize, fabric or other fibrousreinforcing agents such as cotton or linen cloth or fragments, asbestosfibres, glass fibres, etc., in conjunction with the resin.

Where a particular construction permits or required the use of alaminated structure, for greatest strength and most economicalmanufacture, the raw laminating material may be prepared in exactly thesame way as in preparing that used in producing laminated phenolicmaterial of the types commonly referred to in the industry as NEMA GradeC or NEMA Grade L (National Electrical Manufacturers AssociationStandards 193 covering Laminated phenolic products).

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention, and thepresent embodiment is therefore to be considered as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

We claim: v I

1. In a bowling alley, an indicator board coinprising a bank of lampscorresponding in arrangement to the set-up arrangement of the pins onthe alley, pairs of electric contacts marking the positions of theindividual pins on the alley, primary electric circuits for illuminatingsaid lamps each including a pair of contacts and their correspondinglamp on the indicator board, said pairs of companion contacts adapted tobe bridged by conductors on the bases of the pins, secondary electriccircuits each also including one of said lamps upon the indicator board,relays for rendering said last-mentioned circuits effective forilluminating said lamps and switch operating means upon the bowlingalley adapted to be operated by the foot of a player for closing theelectric circuits to actuate said relays.

2. In a bowling alley, an indicator board comprising a bank of lampscorresponding in arrangement to the set-up arrangement of the pins onthe alley, pairs of electric contacts marking the positions of theindividual pins on the alley, primary electric circuits for illuminatingsaid lamps each including a pair of contacts and their correspondinglamp on the indicator board, said pairs of companion contacts adapted tobe bridged by conductors on the bases of the pins, secondary electriccircuits each also including one of said lamps upon the indicator board,relays for renderme said last-mentioned circuits effective forilluminating said lamps and a pair of depressible switch operatingmembers extending crosswise of and approximately in the plane of thealley adjacent the foul line of the alley for closing the electriccircuits to actuate said relays.

3. In a bowling alley, an indicator board comprising a bank of lampscorresponding in arrangement to the set-up arrangement of the pins onthe alley, pairs of electric contacts marking the positions of theindividual pins on the alley, primary electric circuits for illuminatingsaid lamps each including a pair of contacts and their correspondinglamp on the indicator board, said pairs of companion contacts adapted tobe bridged by conductors on the bases of the pins, secondary electriccircuits each also including one of said lamps upon the indicator board,relays for rendering said last-mentioned circuits effective forilluminating said lamps, a signal device operable by the secondarycircuit and switch operating means extending crosswise of the alleyadjacent the foul line of the alley for closing the electric circuits toactuate said relays.

4. In a bowling alley, a foul signaling device comprising, a pair ofdepressible parallel arranged rollers extending across the bowling alleyin relatively closely spaced relation and projecting slightly above thelevel of the alley, an electric circuit, a signaling member adapted tobe actuated by an electric current interposed in said electric circuit,and two pairs of normally open switches, the pairs being arranged inseries in said circuits and the switches of each pair being arranged inparallel, the switches of one pair underlying opposite ends of oneroller in position to be closed upon depression of either or both endsthereof and the switches of the other pair being arranged in like mannerwith respect to the other roller, whereby upon simultaneous depressionof either or both ends of both rollers the signaling member will beactuated.

JESSE B. LUNSFORD.

ELLSWORTH F. SEAMAN.

